From the moment they first met, Paul and Keith were virtually inseparable. “Three years later, we’ve spent less than a dozen days apart,” Paul shares. To celebrate their anniversary, Paul planned a surprise trip to Paris, where he proposed to Keith on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Louvre.

Consistent with the European theme of their engagement, the couple envisioned an English country-inspired wedding. They instantly fell in love with the history and architecture of the University of Toronto’s Hart House, selecting rich, dark navy and red to complement the venue’s character. “It was a gay wedding, so we wanted our style and personalities to shine through but with traditional touches,” Paul says. “The most important thing for us was for everyone to feel comfortable.”

Being surrounded my family and friends was incredibly special for the couple. “For speeches during the reception, we introduced our parents and siblings, and having the chance to tell them all how much they mean to us was an opportunity we couldn’t let pass—we didn’t know if the chance would ever present itself again,” Paul recalls. “People were laughing and cheering through the whole ceremony; it was exactly what we hoped for.”

Most importantly, Paul and Keith wanted their wedding celebrations to reflect their love for each other. To initiate a party-like atmosphere, they held a pre-ceremony cocktail party. “By having cocktails before the ceremony, we thought we could eliminate the awkwardness and get right into the fun,” Paul says. As well, Paul and Keith encouraged female guests to wear white since there was no bride. “It was stunning to see how many women and men showed up wearing white,” Paul describes. “It was beautiful.”

Tiffany and Steve met online and quickly realized how many things they had in common. Growing up, they shared a few childhood friends and even attended the same university. “I attribute this all to a matter of timing and fate. If I had met him during these times, not sure it would have worked out as easily,” Tiffany says.

The couple wanted their wedding theme to contrast the Aga Khan Museum’s white exterior and complement its ornate interior. They chose a moody palette of dusty rose, navy blue, copper, and silver to accentuate the beauty of the venue’s courtyard and garden. A consistent bright pop of colour throughout their wedding was provided by four very important guests—the couple’s family of lobster plushies made by family-run toy company in Vermont.

During the ceremony, the bride and groom stood beneath a stunning floral chuppah as they exchanged vows. “I do wish I could have camped out under that floral halo—it was a dream,” Tiffany recalls.

Another one of Tiffany’s favourite details were her dresses. The first was a form-fitting bridal gown by Inbal Dror, and the second was a custom-designed red dress inspired by a traditional qipao. Steve also had the opportunity to weigh in on what Tiffany wore. “We totally broke tradition and I’m glad we did. I was debating between two dresses and Steve much preferred me in the form-fitting one over another, poofy ball gown,” Tiffany shares. “In the end it worked out because he really didn’t see the final product, veil and all, until I walked down the aisle.”

Although Tiffany admits to being nervous walking down the aisle, she was overcome with awe once reaching the chuppah. “To look up and around at the surroundings and people we love who came out to support and celebrate us on our wedding day was a top moment,” she says. “It was important for both of us to try and soak up the moment as much as possible–despite how fast we felt it went.”

Kelsey and Ameya met in a very unlikely location: the elevator of their apartment building. “Over the course of three months, we kept running into each other and just really enjoyed those 15-second ‘elevator conversations,'” Kelsey reveals. “After the third elevator exchange, Ameya asked me out and the rest is history.”

Two years ago, Kelsey’s family, who live on the west coast, got together for a wedding in British Columbia. Ameya took this opportunity to ask Kelsey’s family for their blessing and popped the question before returning to Toronto. “Ameya took me away from everyone and led me down to the waterfront where he asked me to marry him,” Kelsey recalls. “A highlight was getting to soak it all in together on the airplane ride.”

Elements from the bride and groom’s cultural backgrounds were combined into one memorable celebration. A colour palette of pink, gold, and navy was inspired by the traditional Indian sarees worn by the bridesmaids. With the bright, modern venue, the vibrant hues from the wedding party’s attire and floral arrangements added fresh personality and elegance to the space.

Other nods to Indian culture included custom-made gold potli bags from India filled with freshly ground spices for guests to take home. For Kelsey and Ameya, it was also important that the catering reflect their unique backgrounds. “Finding a caterer that could meet our standards and make amazing Indian and North American dishes was a tall order, but we and our guests were blown away by the food,” Kelsey shares.

In the evening, guests were surprised with a Bollywood flash mob performed by the wedding party. “With many ex-figure skaters in the room on our wedding day, we had many dancing enthusiasts to say the least,” Kelsey says. “It set the tone for an amazing dance party!”

For Kathryn’s 23rd birthday, John planned her a surprise weekend trip to Disney. But this trip was special for another reason: after arriving at Disney and enjoying a couple’s massage and romantic dinner, he proposed to her on a yacht as they watched the fireworks over Magic Kingdom. “It couldn’t have been more magical,” Kathryn says.

Since Kathryn and John got engaged at Disney, they wanted to have a dreamy fairy tale wedding featuring soft pinks, white, and metallics. Inside their whimsical reception tent, blooming florals and glass accents infused the space with elegance. “There were also subtle hints of Disney inspiration through our invitations, menus, seating chart, and photo booth,” Kathryn shares. For instance, a hot air balloon basket–inspired by the Disney movie Up–served as a playful photo backdrop.

Tying the knot in front of their loved ones was the most special moment of Kathryn and John’s wedding. Despite this, they couldn’t wait to unwind at the reception. “At this point, we could let loose because most of the day was over and it was just time to celebrate,” Kathryn says. “The tent turned out to be more beautiful than either of us could have imagined.”

Kathryn and John’s first dance was to “From This Moment On” by Shania Twain, alluding to the early days of their relationship. “Kathryn grew up in [Shania’s hometown] and we would often listen to Shania Twain music on our way to class in the car,” John reveals. “It’s also a timeless song and we know we will love dancing to it forever.”

Michael and Christine were vacationing in Positano, Italy when Michael arranged for a private yacht to take them for a sunset cruise. After a few shots of limoncello, Michael grabbed Christine’s hand and proposed while undercover photographers–disguised as a boat crew–snapped away. “She responded gracefully with ‘thank you’ and eventually said yes,” Michael says.

The couple wanted to embrace their Chinese heritage in an event that was elegant, timeless, and romantic. A rich palette of deep burgundy, pink, and peach brought out the late summer colours and complemented the cultural elements of the wedding. To make the celebration a unique, interactive experience, a 12-foot cherry blossom tree inside the reception was decorated with treats such as macarons, cupcakes, and cake pops.

Door games were also incorporated into the wedding, to the delight of the wedding party. “In Chinese tradition, the groom and his groomsmen have to perform a series of tasks in order to earn the right to see the bride,” the couple says. Tasks included taking mixed shots, doing yoga poses in suits, waxing their legs, and a freestyle rap performed by Michael. “Many of the groom’s friends are Canadian and have never experienced this before, so it was fun for everyone.”

The highlight of the special day was when Christine and Michael recited their personalized vows to each other. “Despite not discussing their vows with each other beforehand, they found that many of their promises to each other were identical,” says Carmen Luk, their wedding planner. “It was a very special and personal moment that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”

After Dianne and Etienne’s original plans to wed in Prince Edward County fell through, they opted for a destination wedding in Morocco. The couple had never visited the country before but both Dianne and Etienne say they were captivated by its effortless beauty.

Peacock Pavilions, a boutique hotel combining Moroccan architecture and chic accents, was the perfect location for their celebration. Their venue, decorated with lush greenery and dotted with pink and red flowers, created a dreamy setting for the small gathering. To enhance the surrounding flora, fairy lights and fresh blooms were strung over the dinner table. In the centre of the courtyard, a pool filled with rose petals was “not only an incredible sight,” the couple recalls, “but we all jumped in the pool after the dancing ended!”

Dianne and Etienne worked closely with a friend, who officiated the wedding, to create a personal and thoughtful ceremony. “We made sure the ceremony really reflected us as a couple, including taking a moment for us and our guests to really ground ourselves in the moment we were about to be a part of,” the couple shares. “Instead of asking if anyone objected to our marriage, we instead passed around our vow books and asked for our guests to give their blessing and support to the promises we were about to make to one another.”

Instead of having a specific wedding song, everyone danced the night away to music by a Gnaoua trope. “Gnaoua originates from sub-Saharan Africa and features lively singing, drums, castanets, and a gimbri (a three-stringed guitar),” they explain. “The band surprised our guests after dinner! They did an amazing job.”

Ben and Julie met while both were studying at the University of Oxford. For Julie who came from Canada, and Ben, who hailed from the United States, the chemistry was instant. “We bonded over our love of food and travel, becoming fast friends,” Julie says. Ben’s proposal came on Valentine’s Day in 2017, during one of Julie’s business trips to New York City. In an elaborate surprise, he filled her hotel room with flowers and her favourite foods from several places around the city. To add an even more personal touch, Ben put together a slideshow of the couple’s favourite moments.

The pair had a romantic, timeless wedding with a soft colour palette of dusty rose, blush, and silver. At the reception, stunning floral arrangements of pink and white roses decorated their venue, the Four Seasons Vancouver, creating a beautiful setting for the intimate celebration of about 80 guests.

As huge foodies, Julie and Ben chose a cake made solely from different types of cheese. “We love cooking, exploring markets, and travelling the world, and cheese is one of our favourite food groups. When we saw pictures of cheese ‘cakes’, we thought it would be the perfect ‘cake’ for us—savoury, cheesy, and slightly unconventional,” Julie reveals. “We also thought it would be a good addition to the dessert buffet since it would balance the spread.”

Between the wedding ceremony and reception, Julie and Ben managed to share a special moment alone together. “We were able to just relax and enjoy each others’ company, away from guests and cameras, savouring the specialness of the day,” Julie shares.

In the evening, the couple danced to “I Choose You” by Andy Grammer. “We felt that the lyrics of the song perfectly captured our feelings for each other—particularly around the sentiment of finding the one person whom we choose to spend the rest of our lives, and how lucky we are to be able to do so,” Julie says.

Bernie put a lot of thought into his romantic proposal to Amara. While meeting up with friends at a park, he hired an undercover photographer to take photos as Amara watched a video on an iPad. “The video ended with our friends and family asking her the question: ‘Will you?’ At that point I got on one knee and said a few words I can’t remember. She said yes!” Bernie recalls. “I didn’t even realize a small crowd of people had gathered round and applauded. It was a magical day.”

From the moment planning began, Amara knew she wanted to have a blush and gold wedding. “The palette was soft and subtle and very in tune with the romantic theme that we both love,” Amara says. The wedding cake also played a big role in their perfect romantic look. “Tosin of AfroCoco cakes took great care to ensure that the cake would be cohesive with the decor. It turned out exactly how we envisioned.”

Their special day included cultural traditions from both the bride and groom’s backgrounds. “We had contemporary African dancers perform,” Amara shares. “Our friends really enjoyed seeing that aspect of our culture.” To top it off, the couple’s large families ensured the energy and liveliness kept going into the wee hours—making for one truly special celebration.

Walking down the aisle after exchanging vows is a memory Amara and Bernie say they’ll cherish forever. “Not only was it the first time we were officially husband and wife, it was also the first time we really got to turn around and see our guests,” Amara shares. “It was then that it hit us that all these people came from places as far as Nigeria, Oman, and India just to celebrate our love.”

Leah and Adam were just Facebook friends when they bumped into each other at a music festival. “We both like to think somehow the stars aligned that day,” Leah recalls. “Little did we know as we watched Mumford and Sons and danced away to ‘I Will Wait,’ the wait was actually over. That was the song we chose to start playing as we said our I dos and made our way back down the aisle as husband and wife four years later.”

As self-described hopeless romantics, Leah and Adam wanted a warm and timeless wedding theme. They chose a soft palette of taupe, white, grey, and green to achieve the look. These colours were accented with peach and caramel florals, which were among the couple’s favourite details. “Perfectly soft and romantic, loose in that gorgeously whimsical way, we, and everyone else at the wedding, were blown away,” the couple says. To enhance the whimsical feel of the wedding, a beautiful chandelier was hung over the spot where the couple exchanged vows.

During cocktail hour, Leah’s maid of honour and best friend of 30 years surprised the couple with the gift of a lifetime: Paul Dolgov, who was there to paint the wedding. “The result was a gorgeous one-of-a-kind acrylic painting of our first dance, and a piece of art that captures the day perfectly and we will cherish for the rest of our lives,” Leah describes.

Amidst the celebrations of their big day, Leah and Adam cherished a quiet moment alone. “We had the opportunity to finally, for the first time that day, take a breath and absorb that we were now husband and wife,” Adam recalls.

Jillian and Ian’s relationship had an unconventional beginning. “We actually met speed dating! I know right? Who’d have thought that it actually works?” Jillian recalls with a laugh. After having met everyone at the speed dating event, the couple decided to give each other a shot. Surprisingly, their first date ended up feeling easy and natural.

After sifting through hundreds of wedding inspiration photos, Jillian and Ian decided on a neutral palette of pastel blue, soft peach, and gold for their own celebration. Greenery, candles, and string lights transformed the otherwise industrial space into a warm and inviting atmosphere. The couple also included an unexpected touch into the decor: fruit. “We hit upon that idea fairly early in planning, and really loved it,” Jillian explains. “It’s refreshing, original, practical, and also added some beautiful natural colours that fit our overall theme.”

The couple’s big reveal at the wedding ceremony was one of their favourite moments. “After waiting on the back stairs to walk down the aisle, we stepped out from behind a curtain to immediately see the smiling faces of all our friends and family, from all different parts of our lives. Suddenly seeing everybody in such a beautiful setting, all together and all at once, was an unexpected joy. And then the crowd cheered!” Jillian recalls.

Initially, Jillian and Ian struggled to pick a song for their first dance. They thought that “Rosie” by John Mayer would create the perfect vibe for the occasion, but didn’t think the lyrics were appropriate. Instead, the couple chose “How Deep is Your Love” by the Bee Gees–but this was just a diversion for Ian’s real plan. As an amateur musician, Ian secretly recorded his own version of “Rosie” from scratch. “I thought I might cry during the wedding, but I didn’t expect it to be during the first dance,” Jillian says. “The groom earned enough brownie points to last him for the rest of our lives.”

Nada and Eddie met at a mutual friend’s party and kept in touch for years. Although Nada lived in Toronto and Eddie lived in Edmonton, they realized that they were more than just friends and started a long-distance relationship. After three-and-a-half years of dating, Eddie proposed to Nada on a catamaran during a trip to Nicaragua.

The wedding was a DIY project by Nada, who designed everything from the initial vision to the decor. Rich colours of burgundy, plum, peach, and gold popped against the snow-covered Rideau Canal. Playing with the DIY theme, the couple added personal touches including a donut wall and a photo booth with a custom backdrop. “My dad and I built the donut wall together in the summer,” Nada explains. “We were so happy with the outcome—it looked awesome, and we loved that it was homemade.” In the evening, guests danced away to a fusion of hip-hop and music from both the bride and groom’s cultures.

Nada attributes much of the wedding’s success to those who helped make it happen. “The bridal party put in serious work with set-up,” Nada says. While the groom and groomsmen were unloading a moving truck worth of decor and polishing the copper arch, the bride and bridesmaids were setting up floating candles everywhere.”

For Nada and Eddie, simply being surrounded by family and friends made the day memorable. “Standing at the altar with all my best friends next to me and physically seeing my soon-to-be wife walking towards me was an amazing moment,” Eddie says. “The emotion that came over me at that moment was something I had never felt before.” Nada agrees. “Having everyone that we love there supporting us and so genuinely happy for us was magical and unlike any other time in your life.”

Kelsey and Kyle met at their workplace in Manchester, England, quickly sparking a romance. “It was all magic from there on,” Kelsey recalls. “I brought myself home a souvenir from England!”

While moving into their new apartment in Ottawa, Kyle asked Kelsey to search for an item in another room. Meanwhile, Kyle swiftly attached a sparkling ring to their dog’s collar. “When our dog sat for a treat, I saw the ring and cried from excitement—I was so shocked!” Kelsey shares.

For their wedding, Kelsey and Kyle wanted to accentuate the beauty of their vineyard venue. They selected a bold palette of crimson and navy to contrast the grapevines and to represent their outgoing personalities. To tie the indoor reception to the outdoor ceremony, the rustic interior was decorated with lush greenery, bright red bouquets, candles, and globe lights.

Although it rained during their vows, Kelsey and Kyle didn’t let the weather dampen their big day. “Our ceremony was set outdoors, amongst the vines, covered only just from the rain and thunder surrounding us. It was utterly amazing!” Kelsey exclaims. “My dress may have been soaked, but it was worth every minute.” Shortly after the couple said “I do,” the rain stopped and a rainbow appeared—creating the most perfect happily-ever-after moment.

Later that evening, lighting happened to strike the reception venue and a generator was used to supply power. Occasional blackouts interrupted speeches from friends and family, but this was when guests got creative. “Our family created a kissing game – every time the lights went out, our guests cheered and clinked their glasses for us to kiss,” Kelsey mentions. “Nevertheless, we made the most of it.”

Kevin asked Christal to marry him with a romantic proposal in Prince Edward County. The couple share a love for the area and even ventured into purchasing Airbnb properties in The County. “Jumping into business and mortgages together in this new destination was a huge leap of faith for us–it actually brought us even closer together,” Christal says. One morning during the couple’s stroll through the local beachside, Kevin popped the question. “It was simple, it was real, it was us.”

For Christal, the director of marketing who launched the Bisha Hotel brand, the hotel was the ideal venue for their reception. The couple complemented the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows with modern decor and sparkling gold accents, which looked stunning against the backdrop of the city lights. Although the theme largely emphasized the city’s glow, the couple paid homage to Prince Edward County with wedding favours sourced from the local farmers’ market.

“My favourite moment was laughing with giddiness every time my husband and I looked at each other throughout the day,” Christal recalls. “I also loved having all my family including my 93-year-old grandparents come in from Montreal, Ottawa, and New York and friends from faraway places like Oslo, Norway. Seeing everyone come from so far to celebrate with us really made our day so special.”

Being the first wedding at the Bisha Hotel was also very sentimental. “To celebrate our love with all of our family and friends in a place that I worked so hard to open was absolutely perfect.”

Matthew proposed to Katie one night after she had been out with friends. Everyone was in on it, and while Katie was away, Matthew decorated their first home with rose petals and candles. “It was romantic and magical,” Katie remembers. “I was so surprised!”

While Katie and Matthew’s wedding was large, it also felt intimate with friends and family helping out every step of the way. A close family friend officiated the ceremony, and family members performed the couple’s first dance song, “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young, live at the reception. “Having our loved ones pitch in made the whole day personalized and meaningful,” Katie shares.

Finding the perfect wedding gown was also a special experience for Katie. “We booked a private after-hours at the exquisite Stella’s Bridal,” Katie remembers. “My wedding gown was beautiful and luxurious — it made me feel so unique.”